Synthesis and anticorrosive performance evaluation of zinc vanadate pigment

Exclusion of chromate and lead based pigments and effective replacements of phosphate and molybdate are emergent demands in coating industry nowadays. In the present study zinc vanadate, the newest class of pigments, synthesized, characterized and evaluated for anticorrosive performance in coatings. The submicron size zinc vanadate pigment was synthesized by controlled coprecipitation reaction using zinc acetate as precursor and sodium metavanadate as the precipitant in presence of Polysorbate 80 (Tween-80) surfactant. The functional group, crystal structure and morphology of zinc vanadate were analyzed by FTIR, XRD, and FESEM respectively. Additionally, anticorrosive pigmentary properties of the synthesized pigment were evaluated using epoxy resin as a binder and polyamine as a curing agent as per ASTM and subsequently tested in artificial seawater (3.5 wt. % of NaCl). Superior performance in terms of anticorrosive protection with high tinting strength was exhibited by zinc vandate over their phosphate counterparts.